If they kill a pigeon they will take it up here, and throw the inedible bits over the edge, so there will be more than feathers coming down. I've seen this pair dismantling a pigeon on the Metropole Hilton hotel tower, but not yet here.
It was a quiet day, but not bad for seeing small birds, which have become more visible as autumn sets in. The holly tree at the southwest corner of the bridge is a good place. My quest for pictures of birds among the berries yielded a slightly better picture of a Blue Tit ...
... and a Coal Tit. The two Coal Tits here are quite bold and come to the hand to be fed. This one was visibly annoyed by being photographed instead fed immediately, and darted around squeaking indignantly.
A Dunnock foraged under the tree amid fallen berries.
It also appears briefly in this video, along with a Robin.
A Goldcrest appeared in a yew tree near Peter Pan.
This Long-Tailed Tit was one of a flock on the other side of the lake.
A Carrion Crow gave me a regal stare from an umbrella at the Lido restaurant, where it was waiting in the hope of scavenging leftovers from a table.
A Jackdaw perched on the fence around the old Field Maple tree beside the leaf yard.
A Grey Wagtail paused for a moment on a rock beside the little pool at the top of the Dell waterfall.
On the other side of the pool, a male Common Darter dragonfly sunned himself. Although he wasn't doing anything, it was interesting to see his abdomen flexing in and out as he breathed.
The teenage Mute Swans are beginning to fly. This one foolishly landed in one of the Italian Garden ponds, from which it can't escape.
There is not enough water for its takeoff run, and it's a long and dangerous walk for a swan to the Vista, the nearest place where it could get back into the water. It will be all right, though. There are plenty of algae for it to eat. Swans often get stuck here, and the place is regularly visited by the Wildlife Officer, who grabs them and carries them back to the lake.
Even an indulgent Great Crested Grebe parent can lose patience with pushy chicks. This one at the island got shooed off. They are getting fed quite often enough, and will soon be starting to fish for themselves.
Lovely shot of the Grey Wagtail it a seemingly natural location.
ReplyDeleteThe Dell is a carefully created garden and the rock is placed on an artfully disposed waterfall, but at least it's a real rock and a wild bird.
Delete... though actually, looking at it closely, it seems to be several rocks mortared together.
DeleteI would have given something dear to be able to hear those annoyed squeaks from the Coal Tit. Why are those two so bold and the other one so timid?
ReplyDeleteGod, I so love Robins.
Even the tiniest birds have discernible personalities. Where there is just one or a couple in a certain place, you learn their preferences and habits.
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